Yasothon Rocket Festival

Bun Bang Fai: Yasothon Rocket Festival
(14-15 May 05 : Phaya Thaen Park, Yasothon Province)
In a country where agriculture and farming sustains the livelihood of over 70% of the population, the festivals and ceremonies associated with a bountiful harvest are central elements of the way of life in the rural communities. Agricultural productivity and abundance are the main objectives of both the royal as well as the folk traditions.

These rituals performed on auspicious dates in the sixth lunar month (approximately in May) signal the beginning of the planting season. As such the Thai Rocket Festival is held every year on the second week of May. This festival marks the beginning of the rice growing season. Rockets are built and launched into the sky to ask for the rains from God of rain, Phaya Tan. The people believe if Phaya Tan is pleased by their actions, he will deliver the rains necessary for a successful rice harvest. In this process, Buddhist merit-making traditions are also observed and reinforced. Yasothon rocket festival is known to be the most impressive rocket festival in all of Thailand.

It is said that many years ago, during the time when the Lord Buddha was born as a toad, Phaya Tan was very angry with the people. Phaya Tan decided to punish the people by withholding the life giving rains. During this time of severe drought, all the people, plants, and animals suffered greatly. As the drought continoued, most of the living creatures died from lack of water. After 7 months, the surviving people and animals rallied together and went to consult with Lord Buddha, the toad. After much discussion, they decided Phaya Naki, the giant snake, should lead them into the battle with Phaya Tan. But, Phaya Tan was too powerful and defeated Phaya Naki and his troops. Buddha, the people, and the animals then sent Phaya Dtaw, the wasp, and Phaya Dtan, the hornet to engage Phaya Tan. But, once again, Phaya Tan defeated the attackers, returning them home hopeless for victory and awaiting unescapable death from drought.

Finally, Buddha, the toad, planned an attack with termites building mounds into the sky along which scorpions and centipedes would travel into the battle against Phaya Tan and his forces. Moths aided the offensive by destroying the wooden handles of the enemies’ weapons. Phaya Tan was overwhelmed by the coordinated effort of Buddha’s attack. Buddha accepted Phaya Tan’s surrender under the conditions that he provide the rains immediately and in the future, if he should forget, the people will remind him by launching rockets, at which time he will start the rains.The songs of the frogs will inform Phaya Tan the rains are being received and when he hears the sounds of the farmers’ rattand wind chimes attached to kites, he will know to cease the rains as the harvest time is soon approaching.

And so it is that villagers construct gigantic home-made rockets and ceremoniously fire them into the skies to ’ensure’ plentiful rainfall during the forthcoming rice-planting season. The 2-day Yasothon rocket festival is an occasion for much high-spirited revelry, including beauty parades, rocket processions, folk dancing and stage shows. With the launch of the rockets, predictions are made with regard to the fortunes of the coming harvest. The Rocket Festival in Yasothon Province is spectacular and provides a great opportunity to experience Issan-style festive fun.

This year, the annual Yasothon Rocket Festival will open with a parade of women performing a Bang Fai Dance around revellers carrying colourful rockets in the shape of river serpents. A single rocket will be launched to foretell the next season’s rains. The higher it goes, the better the rains. Then, the rocket competition starts with the same rule - the rocket that shoots the highest is the winner of the competition. If a rocket fails to take off or explodes, the owner will be unceremoniously thrown into the mud.

Note:
Event dates and programme details may be subject to change. To ensure you have the most updated information, please reconfirm details prior to travel.